Improvement in organ-couplers



R. E. LETTN.

Organ Couplers.

N0` 141,444, Patented August5, 1873.

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t Nrrn STATES PATENT OFFICE;

I RAPHAEL E. LETTON, OF QUINOY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF HIS RIGHTTO LUOIUS M. LOOKE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ORGAN-COUPLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,444, dated August5, 1873 application filed May '7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAPHAEL E. LnrroN, of Quincy, Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Organs, of which y'thefollowing is a description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention relates to providing an organ or reed instrument with acoupler for doubling the notes in the treble and bass; also, tooperating such coupler by means of a knee-swell; also, operating suchcoupler by means of stops, so that either the treble or bass, or both,may be doubled at will.

Figure l is a plan view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is afront view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

The coupler in the presentinstance consists of two platforms, A A',hinged at their rear below the keys, and separated at the point belowthe key which represents the iirst note Gr below the treble-stave. Theseplatforms are similar in all mechanical respects, save that in theplatform A, which affects the ba-ssnotes, the wires B extend diagonallyfrom front to rear toward the left, while on the platform A', whichaffects the treble-notes, the wires B extend diagonally from front torear toward The wires B are secured to the platform, and have at theirends the arms b and c extending upward and backward, and distant fromeach other a space equal to an octave on the key-board, and so placedthat kwhen the front of the platform A is elevated the extremity of thearm b will come in contact with the base of the pin d on the under sideof the key C, and the corresponding eX- tremity of the arm c will restupon the collar c on the pinf secured to the under side of the key D,which is an octave from the key O. The wires B are so secured to theplatforms A A asvto be capable of a slight rotation, but, nevertheless,so firmly held as to give the arms b a iixed upward inclination, exceptwhen depressed by the action of the keys. Below the front portion of thekeyboard is provided the slide E, reduced at its center so as to have aproper lateral movement in the guide F. One extremity of the slide E isprovided with the guide-block H, to which is pivoted the upper end ofthe lever I, which is pivoted at its center to the case of theinstrument, and at its lower extremity to one end of the rod L, itsother end being similarly attached to the cen-1 ter of the knee-swell M,which may be provided with a spring to restore it to a vertical positionafter being operated. At the center of the instrument, above the keys,are provided the stops P R, which are similar in all respects, andoperate, respectively, the platu forms A A', affecting, respectively,the bass and treble keys. These stops consist of the rod g, the rear endof which is attached to the standard It upon the foot t, which slidesbetween the end of the board k and the block l which separates the feett'. The lower front portion of the feett' are provided with inclines m,which engage the pins n in the ends of the platforms A A', a slot beingcut out between two adjacent keys to allow the standards h a freemovement.

When it is desired to double the notes in both the bass and treble, theknee-swell M is pressed to the left, which operates the connectingmechanism and causes the slides E to move laterally, bringing theinclines N in contact with the pins o on the front edges of theplatforms A A', thus elevating the platforms, and thereby bringing theextremities of the arms b into close relation with the ends of the pinsd on the under side of the key C. This being struck, the wire B isrotated, giving the arms c a downward movement, in which it acts uponthe collar e on the pin f secured to the under side of the key D. Saidkey is thereby drawn down, and thus the note represented by the key O isdoubled, and the volume of sound greatly increased. From the fact thatthe platforms A A' are separated as mentioned, the couplers can be, andare, arranged to have both an ascending and descending action, thusplaying the note an octave above that struck in the treble, or a note anoctave below that struck in the bass. Upon renewing the pressure uponthe knee-swell M and returning it to its vertical position, therebyretraeting the connecting mechanism, the inclines N pass under the pinso and allow the platforms A A to accomplish a gradual de scent, when theinstrument may be operated in the ordinary manner. Vhen it is desired todouble notes in either the bass or treble the stop I or R, respectively,is operated, drawing the standard h and foot yiy forward, the inclines mupon the latter coming in Contact with the pin n on the end of theplatforms Aor A', thus elevating' their front edges into an operativeposition, when the notes are doubled, as already set forth. To doublethe notes in the treble and bass, both the stops P and It arel. "lliehinged platform A Al provided with the pins a, and Wires B having thearms b d arranged as shown, in combination with the inclines m, feet t",standards 7L, rods g secured to the stops I and It, when said parts arecoustrueted and arranged to operate substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The hinged platforms A A provided with the pins o, and Wires B havingthe arms b d arranged as shown, in combination with the slide E havingthe inelines N, the lever I, rod L, and knee-swell M, when said partsare eonstructed and arranged to operate substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in organs as abovedescribed, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22d day of April,1873.

RAPHAEL E. LETTON. [1.. sf]

Vitnesses:

Trios. T. WOODRUFF, WM. B. BULL.

